Technical Lead - Fashion Quality & Compliance

Energy Jobline CVL; Leicester; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Energy Jobline CVL is seeking a Technical Manager to lead the technical function for a fast-growing fashion supplier. You will oversee product development, quality and compliance, collaborating with design, sales, sourcing and manufacturing teams to meet customer requirements.

You will drive ethical and technical compliance with overseas partners, manage audits such as SMETA and retailer standards, and lead improvements across supplier performance.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a technical/product technology or technical management role.
• Proven experience managing and developing a technical team.
• Strong knowledge of product construction, quality and manufacturing.
• Experience working with overseas suppliers and manufacturing partners.
• Experience managing ethical compliance programmes, including SMETA and customer audits.
• Excellent project management and organisational skills.
• Strong commercial, problem-solving and communication skills.
• Experience within fashion accessories, leather goods, apparel or a similar consumer product sector.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support the technical team, managing workload and priorities.
• Manage technical development from concept through to bulk production.
• Review specifications, construction, workmanship and samples.
• Ensure products meet customer quality, safety and performance standards.
• Resolve technical issues with overseas factories and drive continuous improvement.
• Support product testing and technical submissions.
• Work closely with design, sales and sourcing teams.
• Act as the technical contact for key retail and brand customers.
• Build strong customer relationships and attend meetings as required.
• Interpret customer standards and manage technical approvals and critical paths.
• Lead the ethical compliance programme across manufacturing partners.
• Manage customer audit requirements, including SMETA, Next, Primark and other retailer standards.
• Coordinate audits and corrective action plans through to completion.
• Maintain supplier compliance records, certifications and Worldly (Higg) reporting.
• Work with factories to improve compliance, quality and operational performance.

Skills

Technical leadership

Team management

Product development

Quality and manufacturing knowledge

Project management

Communication skills

Experience with overseas suppliers

Problem-solving

Job description

Energy Jobline CVL is seeking a Technical Manager to lead the technical function for a fast-growing fashion supplier. You will oversee product development, quality and compliance, collaborating with design, sales, sourcing and manufacturing teams to meet customer requirements.

You will drive ethical and technical compliance with overseas partners, manage audits such as SMETA and retailer standards, and lead improvements across supplier performance.